Re: xanthosoma mafaffa

From: "Julius Boos" ju-bo at email.msn.com> on 2001.10.10 at 05:34:40(7596) Dear Tony, Good luck! (as the corus of the song 'Dream Lover' by the Everly Brothers plays in the back ground) I don`t think that Xanthosomas can or ever will withstand near freezing temps.---better chance of penguins living in Lk. Okeechobee or Elephants at the N. Pole, but we can try, correct?! These tropical plants SEEM fine with a short 'blast' of low temps., but IF they don`t turn to mush right away, the cold damage is horrific after a few days/weeks, the tissues die, and then they die. Hope to see you soon! Julius +More >>Julius: We tried Xanthasoma maffafa 'Aurea' outdoors back in 1995. That winter we reached 0 degrees F, and the plant was mush. The foliage was fine up until frost. I guess we should try again now that we are having global warming. You've got to look at the positive side of every issue...xanthosomas will be hardy for everyone soon!<< >Dear Tony, > >I will be very interested in hearing the 'end' results of this >survey---Xanthosoma 'mafafa' (in fact all species of Xanthosoma) are >heat-loving plants, but who knows what extremes of low temps they might >withstand, as they do grow pretty far south into southern S. America >(Eduardo???). Somehow I suspect that you will find that the leaves will >not withstand much below say 50 degs F., and the plant will be killed by >wind with temps below this, and frost will kill the rhizome. >Please let us know the results of YOUR attempts, but only after 'you kill it >yourself---at least three times!' > >Cheers, > >Julius Tony Avent Plant Delights Nursery @ Juniper Level Botanic Garden 9241 Sauls Road Raleigh, NC 27603 USA Minimum Winter Temps 0-5 F Maximum Summer Temps 95-105F USDA Hardiness Zone 7b email tony@plantdelights.com website http://www.plantdel.com phone 919 772-4794 fax 919 662-0370 "I consider every plant hardy until I have killed it myself...at least three times" - Avent

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